Snow sport equipment waxing device and method

Abstract

Automated systems, methods and devices for refinishing surfaces on equipment (such as skis and snowboards), engaging the equipment and retracting ski brake arms are disclosed. The disclosure includes applying wax on at least skis and snowboards and may provide kiosks where skiers and boarders can deposit their equipment in a track and have appropriate wax for current snow conditions applied to the equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 loading at least one ski onto a mounting mechanism to be engaged by a brake engagement device comprising an engagement surface configured to engage the at least one ski; wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding, wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; and wherein the brake engagement device is configured to automatically locate the heel piece; 
 seating the engagement surface of the brake engagement device between the heel cup and the brake pedal; and 
 articulating the engagement surface to engage the heel cup and depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position by rotating the engagement surface on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: disengaging and displacing the engagement surface so that distance is created between the engagement surface and the heel cup. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: articulating the engagement surface about at least one axis such that a front portion of the engagement surface rotates toward a top of the at least one ski and a rear portion of the engagement surface rotates away from the heel cup. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: displacing the engagement surface toward a home position. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: displacing the brake engagement device along a track to allow the engagement surface to engage the heel piece and to seat the engagement surface between the heel cup and the brake pedal. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: reversing the displacement of the brake engagement device to ensure the engagement surface is situated against the heel cup. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a wall whereon the at least one ski is loaded when the loading step of  claim 1  is performed. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining the securement of the at least one brake arm in the retracted position. 
     
     
       9. A brake engagement device for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 an engagement surface configured to engage at least one ski; 
 wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding; 
 wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; 
 wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage the heel cup and to rotate on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position; and 
 wherein the brake engagement device is configured to automatically locate the heel piece. 
 
     
     
       10. The brake engagement device of  claim 9 , wherein the brake engagement device is configured to move along a track in order to engage the heel piece. 
     
     
       11. The brake engagement device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one support bar configured to engage at least one surface of the at least one ski and prevent the at least one surface of the at least one ski from rotating at least in one direction when the engagement surface depresses the brake pedal. 
     
     
       12. The brake engagement device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one support arm pivotably configured to the engagement surface for at least aiding in the engagement surface's movement. 
     
     
       13. The brake engagement device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one engagement arm configured to the engagement surface for at least aiding in the engagement surface's movement. 
     
     
       14. The brake engagement device of  claim 9 , wherein the brake engagement device is configured to automatically depress the brake pedal. 
     
     
       15. A brake engagement device for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 an engagement surface configured to engage at least one ski; 
 wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding; 
 wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; 
 wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage the heel cup and to rotate on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position; and 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to automatically adjust to different contours of the ski binding when the engagement surface encounters the ski binding. 
 
     
     
       16. The brake engagement device of  claim 15 , wherein the brake engagement device is configured to automatically rotate about at least one axis to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in the retracted position. 
     
     
       17. A brake engagement device for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 an engagement surface configured to engage at least one ski; 
 wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding; 
 wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; 
 wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage the heel cup and to rotate on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position; and 
 wherein the brake engagement device is configured to automatically fit the engagement surface between the heel cup and the brake pedal. 
 
     
     
       18. The brake engagement device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a shaft configured to the engagement surface, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate the engagement surface about at least one axis; and 
 a sliding mechanism pivotably configured to the shaft; 
 wherein the sliding mechanism is configured to slide the shaft at least in two directions relative to the at least one ski to allow the brake engagement device to adapt to skis and ski bindings of various dimensions. 
 
     
     
       19. A brake engagement device for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 an engagement surface configured to engage at least one ski; 
 wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding; 
 wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; 
 wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage the heel cup and to rotate on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position; and 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to provide a first surface force against at least one surface of the at least one ski while a first opposing surface force is provided by a source other than the brake engagement device on at least another surface of the at least one ski. 
 
     
     
       20. A brake engagement device for retracting ski brake arms, comprising:
 at least one side plate; 
 at least one support arm; 
 at least one engagement arm; and 
 an engagement surface configured to engage at least one ski; 
 wherein the at least one ski comprises a ski binding; 
 wherein the ski binding comprises a heel piece; 
 wherein the heel piece comprises: a heel cup, a brake pedal, and at least one brake arm; 
 wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage the heel cup and to rotate on at least one fulcrum point provided by its engagement with the heel cup to depress the brake pedal and secure the at least one brake arm in a retracted position; 
 wherein the at least one engagement arm is configured to the engagement surface; 
 wherein the at least one engagement arm is pivotably configured to the at least one support arm such that the at least one engagement arm may rotate about at least one axis; 
 wherein the at least one support arm is pivotably configured to the at least one side plate such that the at least one support arm may rotate about an alternate axis; and 
 wherein the at least one support arm's ability to rotate about the alternate axis and the at least one engagement arm's ability to rotate about the at least one axis allows the brake engagement device to adjust to and engage skis and ski bindings of various dimensions.